Where's the Water?
What percent of Earth’s water is saltwater?
97%
What provides the energy that drives the water cycle?
the Sun
What tool do scientists use to map the ocean floor?
sonar
What causes ocean waves?
Wind
What percent of Earth’s water is freshwater?
about 3%
What type of water makes up most of Earth’s freshwater?
Ice in glaciers and ice caps
During which process does water vapor cool and form clouds?
Condensation
The amount of salt dissolved in water is called?
salinity
What causes tides?
The Moon’s gravity
Which step of the water cycle forms clouds?
Condensation
Water stored beneath Earth’s surface is called?
groundwater
What is it called when plants release water vapor through their leaves?
Which ocean floor feature is the deepest?
trench
What are the highest and lowest parts of a wave called?
crest and trough
Which is deeper — a trench or a mid-ocean ridge?
trench
Name two places where freshwater can be found.
Groundwater, lakes, rivers, swamps, ice caps
Name two ways water returns to the ocean.
Runoff and infiltration (or precipitation)
Name the underwater mountain chain where new crust forms.
Mid-Ocean Ridge
What causes deep ocean currents?
Differences in temperature and salinity
Name three forms of precipitation.
rain, snow, sleet, and hail
What is an underground layer of rock that holds groundwater called?
an aquifer
What are the six main steps of the water cycle?
Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration, Transpiration
What two tools are used to study the ocean floor?
Sonar and Satellites
Name one surface current and describe it.
Example: Gulf Stream—carries warm water up the U.S. East Coast
How does salinity affect water density?
Higher salinity = higher density